Converter for catalytic conversion of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A converter for catalytic conversion of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine comprising a double-shelled housing, of which the outer shell is spaced apart from the inner shell. The two shells are slidable with respect to one another and have a heat-retaining layer disposed there-between. The housing is provided with a gas inlet and gas outlet. Slidably mounted in the interior of the housing is at least one receptacle which has exhaust gas passage ways disposed in its upper and lower end portions. The receptacle(s) is (are) filled with granular catalyst forming a bed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A converter for catalytic conversion of noxious pollutants of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, which comprises: a housing being provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet comprised of an outer shell and an inner shell, said shells being disposed in spaced relationship with a layer of thermal insulation interposed therebetween and being slidable with respect to one another; at least two conversion chambers being slidably mounted in said housing and being spaced apart one above the other, each of said conversion chambers being adapted to hold granular catalyst forming a bed and having top and bottom perforate walls interconnected by imperforate side walls, said top and bottom perforate walls being comprised of perforated sheet metal, of which the side facing the granular catalyst has a fine-meshed wire gauze secured thereto; at least one step-like shaped gas flow-defining plate mounted between two adjacent conversion chambers; at least one bolt vertically extending through said housing, said bolt's upper and lower ends penetrating said inner shell, being rigidly connected therewith and being slidable on said outer shell; said conversion chamber and said gas flow-defining plate being perpendicularly penetrated by said bolt; and a plurality of sleeves being slipped over the bolt so as to fix the distances between said top and bottom perforated walls of each conversion chamber, between said gas flow-defining plate and said conversion chambers and between said inner shell and said conversion chambers, respectively. 
     
     
       2. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least three conversion chambers are mounted in the interior of the housing. 
     
     
       3. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer shell is made up of ferritic steel. 
     
     
       4. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer shell is made up of cast iron. 
     
     
       5. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner shell is made up of thin-walled high temperature steel. 
     
     
       6. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner shell is made up of an alloy of low heat capacity. 
     
     
       7. The converter as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the inner shell has a wall thickness of 0.8 to 1.8 mm. 
     
     
       8. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two bolts are extended through the housing. 
     
     
       9. The converter as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least three bolts are extended through the housing. 
     
     
       10. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein each sleeve has at least one collared end. 
     
     
       11. The converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas flow-defining plate comprises a horizontal structural component and two vertical structural components, the latter being in alignment with, and tightly connected to, the imperforate side walls of the respective conversion chambers.